ABOUT
THE FILM
“The First Class” takes an up-close and personal look at the founding class of Crosstown High in Memphis, one of the XQ schools across the nation showing us how to make high school more meaningful while preparing all students for the future.
Join Crosstown students on their journeys from 9th grade through the triumph of graduation as they imagine life on Mars, step into the lives of refugees, learn to think critically, and ultimately find themselves. This documentary will inspire educators and communities to take a close look at the challenges facing students in their own high schools and to start the conversation about how they, too, can rethink learning for teachers and students.
ABOUT
CROSSTOWN HIGH
Crosstown’s journey began in 2015 when Memphis parent Ginger Spickler saw a billboard advertising the XQ Super School Challenge with a call to design the high school of the future. She invited teachers, parents, students, local architects, writers, and business owners to join a design team that grew to 69 people. This diverse team gathered input from more than 200 students and also hosted community conversations.
After listening and reflecting, the team identified two main goals: community members wanted more engaging and meaningful learning for their students, and they craved a racially diverse school to reverse the tide of de facto segregation in Memphis. Crosstown High opened in 2018 with a commitment to being “diverse by design” by recruiting students from across Memphis. The modern, lively high school sits inside the Crosstown Concourse—a ten-story, one-million-square-foot landmark redeveloped with more than 40 businesses, nonprofits, health facilities, and civic groups. The public charter school graduated its first class in 2022 and serves about 480 students in grades 9-12.
ABOUT
XQ INSTITUTE
XQ Institute is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to rethinking high school. We help high schools become centers of innovative and rigorous learning, where every student is prepared to succeed in college, career, and life.Guided by research and co-created with our partners, XQ’s tools and products empower educators, communities, and policymakers to redesign schools and transform student learning to be more relevant and engaging.
ABOUT
THE FILMMAKER
Lee Hirsch is known for creating change through his documentaries. His premiere film “Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony” was theatrically released to acclaim, winning the Audience Award at Sundance. Lee’s feature documentary “Bully” premiered at Tribeca and hit the national zeitgeist, igniting a viral call to action across the US to address the enduring damage of bullying in schools. “The First Class” is another call to action that prompts us to consider how our high school system can better prepare students for today’s rapidly changing world.